Grade 7 Source Analysis The Fight!

Are all primary sources reliable? What are the good points and bad points of primary sources. What is bias– could the sources your textbook be bias? The reliability of primary Sources

The situation Jamie is badly hurt He has a black eye, a bloody nose and he is very embarrassed! Why? Because Sara has beaten him up!!!!

Your task There were several witnesses – you need to examine their stories carefully and reach a conclusion on what really happened in ‘The Fight’. You will need to consider the reliability of each witness.

Glossary words Witness = a person who has seen an event Reliability = how much a piece of information or person can be trusted to be true & accurate.

Task 1 Read through each witness statement and for each one highlight in two different colours the statements that sound like: 1.Facts 2.Opinions

Use table to record the reliability of the information WitnessReliable or unreliable Why?

Statement 1 Statement 2 Statement 3 Statement 4 Statement 5 Jamie pulled Sara’s chair Jamie / and his friends were teasing Sara Sara appeared shocked after the incident Sara pushed Jamie Sara punched Jamie Sara was hitting other students

Witness 1 – Stacey Clarke Date: 11/09/2002, Time: 11.20am “Mr Bevan had just left the room when I noticed Jamie walk behind Sara and pull her chair from under her. She fell on the floor and he kicked her. So she went to hit him – it was only a really light punch, but he fell and hit his face on the corner of the Desk. So it wasn’t really Sara’s fault.

Witness 2 – Tom Wilkinson Date: 11/09/2002, Time 11.22am We’d been doing some role-play – pretending to chop off Charles I’s head – and some people had been getting violent. Sara was going a bit crazy and acting really stupidly. When Mr. Bevan left the room she started hitting people round the head. She hit Jamie’s best mate, Luke, and that’s when he swore at her. Sara turned round and punched him really hard and when he fell to the floor I think she kicked him, but I couldn’t see really clearly. There were lots of people all around her and Jamie.

Witness 3 – Mr Bevan Date: 11/09/2002, Time 12.34am We’d had a lively lesson and I noticed that Sara was getting a bit lively, but she’s always like that. Jamie and some of his mates seemed to be winding her up – calling her names and being cruel to her. I had to leave the room because there was not enough paper for the whole class. When I came back Jamie was on the floor with a crowd of other students around him. Sara was there, but she looked really pale and shocked. I didn’t actually see her do anything. I noticed that Jamie’s nose was bleeding, but he could have knocked it on the corner of the desk.

Witness 4 – Oliver Lewis Date: 19/09/2002, Time 9.07am Sara is really horrible. She’s always pushing people around. That day she had been hitting people, including me! I thing she thought she was playing and being silly, but it really hurt. She kicked Jamie a few times, even after he asked her to stop. I think she punched him to.

Witness 5 – Kate Crowe Date: 11/09/2002, Time 11.20am I was sitting opposite Jamie when he started to call Sara names. I think he was angry because Sara had pretended to chop off Luke’s head. It was a stupid thing to do, but she was only pretending. Jamie got really angry – he’s a real bully. So when Mr. Bevan left the room she went over and pushed him. He fell, hitting his face on the desk. I don’t think she meant to – she was really upset when she saw that his nose was bleeding. I feel really sorry for Sara. Jamie and his gang are always giving her a hard time.

Task 2 Re-read each statement carefully Now for each one tick the things on the grid that the statement mentions happening. If it doesn’t mention it then leave it blank. Now you can easily see the similarities and differences between the witness statements!

Task 3: usefulness On paper write a paragraph answer to these two questions: 1.Which of the statements seems to be the most USEFUL? 2.Based on the statements what do you thing probably happened?

Task 4: Reliability Now carefully read through the new information you have been given on each of the witnesses. Put the heading ‘Reliability’ For each witness explain whether you think they are reliable or not e.g. Tom Wilkinson I think Tom is/isn’t a reliable witness because…

Task 5: Putting it all together (also see the next few pages) Now you need to write up an explanation of the events, the evidence available and what you think really happened. Try to back up the things you say with real evidence e.g. I think that Sara did punch Jamie because the statements by X,Y & Z all mention it. For example Z says that “Sara punched Jamie in the face”.

Organising your answer 1.Introduction – who was involved, when did it happen, where, who are the witnesses, what was the outcome, why is this a difficult case? 2.Cross referencing – what are the similarities and differences between the statements, what are the main disagreements? Are any of the statements full of fact or opinion, which statements seem most useful?

3. Reliability – How reliable are the witnesses, what evidence do you have for your opinion? 4. Conclusion – What do YOU think really happened. Remember to support this with evidence, including quotes from the witness statements where appropriate.

Some useful words to use in your final answer: Perhaps Probably Possibly Maybe Could have Likely Unlikely Might Almost Certainly Feasible Suggested Suspected